Whenever I hear or read a prognostication about the imminent death of the printed word—be it the book, magazine, or newspaper—I just don't believe it. It's not that I'm an ostrich. I fully accept the fact of the Information Revolution, as I noted on this page on Nov. 11, even as I worry about its consequences. But I truly believe that books, magazines, and newspapers will survive for some time to come because they offer distinct advantages over cyber-versions. These include portability, readability, and permanence, just to name a few tangible benefits. There are other, less tangible, benefits as well. I, for one, cannot imagine curling up on the sofa with my computer to read the latest novel by my favorite author or the most recent edition of, say, Chemical & Engineering News . And who among us hasn't taken a stack of back issues of magazines and newspapers to read with us on a ...